| You are suddenly caught in a surprise attack without | | | | to the attacker's head, or to the kidney area, which |
| your personal alarm, pepper spray, or stun gun? Your | | | | is on either side of the lower mid-back section. If |
| trusted stab-ready pocket pen is also missing. You | | | | possible, swing your body together with this blow to |
| feel the paralyzing grip of fear and helplessness | | | | increase its power. Otherwise, extend your arm |
| coming over you. | | | | completely across your face, and then bring your |
| Here are seven basic self-defense moves most | | | | elbow back into the attacker as hard as possible as |
| teenagers and adults can do to free themselves | | | | your arm folds back. If aiming for the head, go for |
| from attackers without much previous training. Some | | | | the ear, eyes, or nose. An ear blow affects the |
| of them are derived from judo, kung fu, tai-kwan-do | | | | attacker's sense of balance in addition to the shock |
| and other known martial arts. The first four listed | | | | of the blow itself. |
| below are done mostly when attacked from the | | | | 6. Arm break. This one takes more skill, but is fairly |
| front side, the last three, when attacked either from | | | | basic. While facing the attacker, grab one of his or |
| the front or backside. | | | | her wrists with both hands (your thumbs are weak |
| 1. Ear slap. With your fingers tightly closed and slightly | | | | points for gripping; you will need both hands). Then, |
| cupped, slap both hands sideways atop both of the | | | | raise the attacker's arm upward so you can twist |
| attacker's ears simultaneously as hard as possible. | | | | yourself under it, and then bring that arm down onto |
| The resulting popping or ringing sensation will give you | | | | your shoulder as hard as you can. More than likely, |
| a few seconds to do a knee-to-groin kick or to | | | | you will sprain the attacker's elbow seriously rather |
| break free. | | | | than breaking it. But, either way, it will disable the |
| 2. Eye gouge. With your fists closed tightly and your | | | | attacker long enough for you to escape. |
| upward-extended thumbs held close to your fists, try | | | | 7. Foot stomp or ankle-knee kick. Stomp the |
| to gouge the attacker's eyes with your thumbs. If | | | | attacker's foot arch as hard as possible with one of |
| one eye is gouged successfully, you can probably | | | | your heels. It hurts big-time. Otherwise, kick the ankle |
| break free, and run. The attacker does not want to | | | | (it also hurts) or the knee as hard as possible. A |
| go blind or lose an eye. The thumbs are stronger | | | | sprained ankle or knee will incapacitate the attacker |
| than the fingers, and are less likely to break during a | | | | long enough to escape. |
| gouging attempt. | | | | Other acceptable street moves include the following, |
| 3. Throat or nose thrust. Both the Adam's apple | | | | - pulling the hair |
| (throat) and nose are susceptible to pain from hard | | | | - stabbing with a hairpin or anything sharp |
| blunt jabs. In either attempt, use your closed fist to | | | | - biting the flesh with teeth |
| hit these areas. The attacker's nose can also be hit in | | | | - clawing or scratching with fingernails |
| a slightly upward direction with the palm-heel side of | | | | - groping for sensitive body-parts and |
| the fist. | | | | squeeze-crushing them |
| 4. Groin kick. Bring your knee up into the attacker's | | | | - grabbing any nearby object for use as a defensive |
| frontal crotch area as hard as possible. This one is | | | | weapon. By shadow practicing all of these moves, |
| meant for male attackers. However, if attacked | | | | your mind and body will acclimate to fast responses |
| frontally by a female, you can press your thumbs | | | | with confidence if attacked. Also, the practice of |
| hard into both sides of the groin section toward the | | | | carrying and using protective devices, like, a rigid |
| top of the creases between the legs and torso. This | | | | ballpoint pen or a small stun gun acclimates escape |
| latter maneuver is a life-guards way of breaking | | | | responses well. Of course, it is always much better |
| clutch holds while saving drowning swimmers. | | | | to cautiously avoid any kind of potential attack in the |
| 5. Elbow swing. This move produces a powerful blow | | | | first place. |